The Rumours Thread

[KogarahWarrior]

Yes, they could host their own NRL 180 show and invite forum members in as guests….; should be interesting….

If there was an NRL 180 it'd be based on the dragons, players come in, talk to Haran or Millward about signing, and turn 180 degrees and don't stop walking

 

[dragonsornothing]

If the dogs are offering equity in pubs why don't we offer Haas and Tino a TV channel each?

looks like WIN could use some of your ideas!!

 

[TruSaint]

 

[RedVee_8]

A good start.

 

[possm]

I'm of the opinion that many in this place vastly over rate both our juniors and many of our signings.

We do so in the hope that our positive posts will translate into results and alas that is far from what happens.

It's a bit of chicken and the egg thing in that was the coach bad or was the player in fact not that good and no matter who the coach was he wouldn't get much better.

Plenty of times so called good or going to be great players have left and in reality how many have really bitten us on the arse despite some going to very good coaches and much better systems?

All the malarkey that Bellamy, Bennett and Robinson would turn our roster in something special is just that malarkey.

They may have done better than Hook & Mc Fooknuckle but the reality is they would have got stuck into the roster and changed it because it wasn't very good and no self respecting coach would want to own it.

Now Hook & Mc Fooknuckle probably didn't want to own it either but with their obvious lack of pulling power and Haran & Co running the show they had what they were given and nobody of note would do all that much better with it but all the while we kept faith and kept rating it blaming coaches.

Not to say coaches shouldn't shoulder lots of blame but in fairness its not as if they had lots of gems to play with let alone polish.

I am of the opinion that:
Sloan is not up to Fullback first-grade standard
Sullivan is not up to halfback first-grade standard
Amone is barely up to first-grade standard
We have some juniors in reserve grade that will one day be up to first-grade standard
When recruiting we need to fill our spine with marquee
players first.
The most significant change we need for 2024 is to improve the fitness and speed of our first-grade players.

 

[baggygreen man]

The most significant change we need for 2024 is to improve the fitness and speed of our first-grade players.

We intend to with the reappointment of Bennett era fitness guru Dan Lawson and hi performance consultant Andrew Gray. This club is finally on the up.

 

[baggygreen man]

When recruiting we need to fill our spine with marquee
players first.

Not what Flanagan has in mind as he is targeting middle forwards and outside backs. No halves so he is confident of keeping Hunt here.
Hope he is doing his homework on these target candidates to see that they have a defensive capability too.

 

[baggygreen man]

Lawrie earns Ken Stephen Medal nomination

Dragons front rower Blake Lawrie has been nominated for the 2023 Ken Stephen Medal thanks to his tireless work off the field giving back to local juniors, supporting charity causes, and making a difference in the wider community.

www.dragons.com.au

Good for you Blocka.

 

[baggygreen man]

A future Dragon says Blocka.

 

[teza]

How many 1st grade games have Bud, Junior & Sloan played? Ans: bugger all! They all would be further on in their development except for Griffin's woeful selections. Bud, in particular has been given limited opportunity- stuck behind the $m man Hunt. More faith in our locals please!! Can all 3 improve, you bet BUT that's the case with all young players at the start of their careers. Too much is being asked of them given that they are playing in a poor team disadvantaged by even poorer coaching.

 

[OneEyedDragon]

We have some juniors in reserve grade that will one day be up to first-grade standard

The most significant change we need for 2024 is to improve the fitness and speed of our first-grade players.

You are entitled to your opinions of course @possm , even if I usually disagree with them. I did find 2 things from your quoted post that I could agree with. However, I still have hopes for Sloan, Sullivan and (possibly) Amone under a decent coach! My expectations of the influence Flanagan will have on the team is a heavy burden for him to live up to

 

[Bin Chicken]

You are entitled to your opinions of course @possm , even if I usually disagree with them. I did find 2 things from your quoted post that I could agree with. However, I still have hopes for Sloan, Sullivan and (possibly) Amone under a decent coach! My expectations of the influence Flanagan will have on the team is a heavy burden for him to live up to

How many 1st grade games have Bud, Junior & Sloan played? Ans: bugger all! They all would be further on in their development except for Griffin's woeful selections. Bud, in particular has been given limited opportunity- stuck behind the $m man Hunt. More faith in our locals please!! Can all 3 improve, you bet BUT that's the case with all young players at the start of their careers. Too much is being asked of them given that they are playing in a poor team disadvantaged by even poorer coaching.

They should all be learning in reserve grade. However, I do agree they would be better off in a better team

 

[justadragon]

They should all be learning in reserve grade. However, I do agree they would be better off in a better team

I hate to say this , they are learning in a reserve grade side.

 

[baggygreen man]

Sullivan and (possibly) Amone

Imho Junior has more upside than Sully after seeing him dismantle the front running Jets in Ressies two weeks ago, then backing up the week after in Firsts. I think being poorly coached by Hook then having to cope with his assault charge has messed with his game and mind, as Junior is a confidence player same as his three amigo mates.

 

[baggygreen man]

How frustrating is it as diehard fans that we have to put up with this recalcitrance by the people running our club over the fate of Ben Hunt. The guy is mentally, physically and playing wise cooked, yet the BOD seem blind to the fact. Grow a brain you suits and please move him on with a swap deal that benefits us, so we can take the first steps to being a great club again.

 

[baggygreen man]

They should all be learning in reserve grade.

They have all done their apprenticeships in Ressies, moving them back there sends the wrong message and is a retrograde step to their becoming quality first grade players.

 

[AyiosYiorgos]

How frustrating is it as diehard fans that we have to put up with this recalcitrance by the people running our club over the fate of Ben Hunt. The guy is mentally, physically and playing wise cooked, yet the BOD seem blind to the fact. Grow a brain you suits and please move him on with a swap deal that benefits us, so we can take the first steps to being a great club again.

I think that's what they will do, they will move him on WHEN it benefits us, we would be looking to maximise the best return possible, by possibly getting a player or two from which ever team he ends up at, it will most probably happen in the off season.

 

[dragonsornothing]

Not much appeal coming to the dragons this season no finals no coach… definitely be in the off-season when it’s easier to sell a story with a coach and a direction and possible a few more fgs to attach a star or two

 

[Old Timer]

Anyone who thinks we can get a SOO forward and potentially another player in a swap deal for Hunt will be sadly mistaken.

Hunt is 34 and playing Hooker at SOO and even then sharing the role and not playing dominant minutes.

His value to other clubs is being vastly over rated.

A youngish highly skilled SOO forward is worth lots more to a team than getting an ageing club half back that isn’t in the top tier of half’s and says he doesn’t want to play Hooker (would be lucky to last 50 minutes a game if he played a full season at 9)

We paid substantial overs when he came and also substantial overs when we retained him and that sad reality is about to play out.

He will be either let go and we will get precious little in compensation or we will keep him in on big $$$$$$$$ and stuff up our cap with a player that doesn’t want to be in or n fact belong in our jersey.

 

[BLM01]

Not much appeal coming to the dragons this season no finals no coach… definitely be in the off-season when it’s easier to sell a story with a coach and a direction and possible a few more fgs to attach a star or two

Speaking of appeal i wonder if we will we pack out WIn stadium next Thursday night for the NRL Grand Final come early. Well it is a GF of sorts to see who may likely come last